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ruthenium definition

ru·theni·um (-t̸hē′nē əm)

noun

a rare, very hard and brittle, silver-gray chemical element, one of the platinum metals, used as a hardener in alloys of platinum and palladium and as a catalyst: symbol, Ru; at. no., 44

Etymology: ModL: so named (1828) by G. W. Osann, Estonian-Russian chemist who produced it in impure form < ML Ruthenia, Russia (source of the ore) + -ium

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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